North Carolina events › Triangle › Fuquay-Varina
Fuquay-Varina, NC is a southern Wake County town with two historic downtowns, a mineral spring park and an arts center. Below: upcoming events, parks and greenways, places to eat, history and estimated drive times, from official town and downtown pages.
- CountyWake Countyofficial town pages
- 2025 Estimate48,536Census Bureau estimate
- Growth Since 2020+41.6%estimate vs April 2020 base
- To RTPabout 37 minestimate, no traffic
About Fuquay-Varina
Fuquay Springs was incorporated in 1909 and joined neighboring Varina in 1963 as one town. The town now describes itself as "one of the fastest-growing small towns in North Carolina."
Fuquay Mineral Spring Park marks the spring found in 1858, which "was thought to have healing powers" (the town's words; we make no health claim). The Fuquay-Varina Arts Center opened in 2019 in a renovated former Belk building.
The town has "18 parks with more than 300 acres" and eleven trails and greenways. The Celebrate Fuquay-Varina festival draws "more than 8,000 people" each fall, and BBQ, Blues and Brews reached its 11th year in 2026.
Growth: From the town's history page: "Fuquay-Varina has become one of the fastest-growing small towns in North Carolina." Youth sports alone grew to "over 11,000 participants in 2025." Census Bureau estimates put Fuquay-Varina at 48,536 people in July 2025, +41.6% since April 2020. See Triangle growth towns.
Anything marked “Not confirmed” was not stated on an official page when we looked on November 3, 2026. Check with the town, venue or business before you go.
Fuquay-Varina Events
This list updates itself from our checked North Carolina calendar: past events drop off each day. Every date was read on an official town, venue or organizer page; times or prices the page did not state say so.
19 upcoming events in Fuquay-Varina on our checked calendar, next up: Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association's First Friday (meets BBQ Blues & Brews) (Nov 6); Icons of Jazz: The Sister Moon Project ft. Grace Kelly & Chrissi Poland (Nov 6); BBQ, Blues & Brews (Nov 7).
This list is rebuilt from our North Carolina events dataset (calendar last re-checked Nov 3, 2026). Every date and price was read on the organizer’s own page; “See event page” means the organizer does not publish one. Plans change, so check the organizer’s page before you drive.
Fuquay-Varina This Weekend (Nov 7-8, 2026)
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBQ, Blues & Brews | Sat, Nov 7 (12:00 PM-4:00 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | Tasting tickets sold separately; price Not confirmed |
| Noche Flamenca | Sat, Nov 7 (7:30 PM-9:30 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | $22 |
Upcoming Fuquay-Varina Events
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association's First Friday (meets BBQ Blues & Brews) | Fri, Nov 6 (5:00 PM-9:00 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | Price not confirmed on the official page |
| Icons of Jazz: The Sister Moon Project ft. Grace Kelly & Chrissi Poland | Fri, Nov 6 (7:30 PM-9:30 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | $24 |
| BBQ, Blues & Brews | Sat, Nov 7 (12:00 PM-4:00 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | Tasting tickets sold separately; price Not confirmed |
| Noche Flamenca | Sat, Nov 7 (7:30 PM-9:30 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | $22 |
| Fuquay Film Festival | Nov 13-14 (6:00 PM-8:00 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | All Festival Pass $20; Friday evening only $8 |
| The Embers Holiday Show | Wed, Nov 25 (7:30 PM-9:30 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | $22 |
| Small Business Saturday (Downtown Fuquay-Varina) | Sat, Nov 28 (Time not confirmed on the official page) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | Price not confirmed on the official page |
| Coffee with a Cop (Fuquay-Varina Police) | Wed, Dec 2 (9:00 AM-10:00 AM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | Price not confirmed on the official page |
| Fuquay-Varina Town Tree Lighting | Thu, Dec 3 | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | See event page |
| Lights in Mineral Spring Park (self-guided) | Thu, Dec 3 (6:00 PM-10:00 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | Price not confirmed on the official page |
| Sleigh Rides (Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association) | Thu, Dec 3 (Time not confirmed on the official page) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | Price not confirmed on the official page |
| Fuquay-Varina Chorale Holiday Show: Blessings | Dec 4-5 (7:30 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | $12 |
| Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association's First Friday | Fri, Dec 4 (Time not confirmed on the official page) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | Price not confirmed on the official page |
| Christmas Parade | Sun, Dec 6 (4:00 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | Price not confirmed on the official page |
| Senior Comedy Night | Wed, Dec 16 (7:00 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | $5 |
| Arts LAB: Dance | Sat, Dec 19 (1:00 PM-4:00 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | Free; registration required |
| Gerald Parker Jazz Orchestra Holiday Show | Sat, Dec 19 (7:30 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | $12 |
| Icons of Jazz: Make Someone Happy ft. Danny Sinoff | Fri, Feb 12, 2027 (7:30 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | $24 |
| Icons of Jazz: I Wish ft. Wendy Moten | Fri, Mar 12, 2027 (7:30 PM) | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | $24 |
Fuquay-Varina Events by Month
- November 2026 7 in Fuquay-Varina
- December 2026 10 in Fuquay-Varina
- February 2027 1 in Fuquay-Varina
- March 2027 1 in Fuquay-Varina
More nearby: The Triangle, NC.
Annual Events and Unconfirmed Dates
These return each year or had a date we could not fully confirm. The date shown is the last one an official page printed; plan with the organizer, not with this table.
| Event | Last Or Listed Date | Venue | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Easter Egg Hunt (Fleming Loop Park) | 2026-03-28 | Fleming Loop Park | Annual; next date not announced |
| Downtown Candy Hop | 2026-03-28 | Main & Broad Streets, Downtown Fuquay-Varina | Annual; next date not announced |
| Independence Day Celebration (South Park) | 2026-07-01 | South Park | Annual; next date not announced |
| Celebrate Fuquay-Varina Festival | 2026-10-03 | Downtown Fuquay | Annual; next date not announced |
| Follow Me to Fuquay-Varina (FM2FV) Concert Series | 2026-10-15 | Downtown Fuquay | Annual; next date not announced |
| Haunted Trail (Carroll Howard Johnson Park) | 2026-10-17 | Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Education Park | Annual; next date not announced |
Things to Do in Fuquay-Varina
| Place | Type | Address | Hours | What It Is |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuquay Mineral Spring Park | Historic Site | 104 Spring Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | All parks open dawn to dusk (town Parks page), except approved programming under light | Park commemorating the 1858 mineral spring, with a restored spring house, footbridge, picnic tables and 0.2 miles of paths. |
| Fuquay-Varina Museums at Ashworth Park | Museum | 131 South Fuquay Avenue, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 (Ashworth Park: 114… | Docent tours Monday 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Wednesday 1-4 p.m.; festival days; by request | Museum complex with a 2-room schoolhouse, first post office, old jail, Centennial Museum, tobacco barn and caboose. |
| Fuquay-Varina Arts Center | Arts Venue | 123 E Vance Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | Business hours Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; weekend programming hours vary | Downtown arts center opened in 2019 with a theater, gallery and studios. |
| Fuquay-Varina Mural Art Walk | Attraction | Downtown Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 (15 locations; Arts Center mural at… | Not confirmed | Self-guided walk past 15 murals downtown, listed with artists and addresses. |
| South Park Community Center | Attraction | 820 S Main Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun closed | Town community center with gym, exercise room, classrooms and pickleball courts. |
| Downtown Fuquay-Varina | Downtown | Downtown Fuquay and Downtown Varina districts, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | Not confirmed | Two downtown districts with arts, dining, breweries and shopping; Downtown Social District allows walking with drinks. |
Parks and Greenways
| Place | Type | Address | Hours | Cost | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilltop Needmore Town Park | Park | 4621 Shady Greens Drive, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | All parks open dawn to dusk (town Parks page), except approved programming under light | Not confirmed | Town greenway rules: all pets on a leash, 6 ft max, clean up after… |
| Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Education Park | Nature Preserve | 301 Wagstaff Road, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | All parks open dawn to dusk (town Parks page), except approved programming under light | Not confirmed | Town greenway rules: all pets on a leash, 6 ft max, clean up after… |
| Jeff Wells Trail | Greenway | 900 South Main Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | All parks open dawn to dusk (town Parks page), except approved programming under light | Not confirmed | Town greenway rules: all pets on a leash, 6 ft max, clean up after… |
| South Park | Park | 900 South Main Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | All parks open dawn to dusk (town Parks page), except approved programming under light | Not confirmed | Town greenway rules: all pets on a leash, 6 ft max, clean up after… |
| Alston Ridge Greenway and Park | Greenway | 6850 Hilltop-Needmore Road Extension, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | All parks open dawn to dusk (town Parks page), except approved programming under light | Not confirmed | Town greenway rules: all pets on a leash, 6 ft max, clean up after… |
| Fleming Loop Park | Park | 501 Fleming Loop Road, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | All parks open dawn to dusk (town Parks page), except approved programming under light | Not confirmed | Town greenway rules: all pets on a leash, 6 ft max, clean up after… |
| Old Honeycutt Road Park | Park | 101 Fitness Drive, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | All parks open dawn to dusk (town Parks page), except approved programming under light | Not confirmed | Town greenway rules: all pets on a leash, 6 ft max, clean up after… |
| Park Depot Greenway | Greenway | 101 Fitness Drive, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | All parks open dawn to dusk (town Parks page), except approved programming under light | Not confirmed | Town greenway rules: all pets on a leash, 6 ft max, clean up after… |
| South Lakes Greenway | Greenway | 1324 Old Honeycutt Road, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | All parks open dawn to dusk (town Parks page), except approved programming under light | Not confirmed | Town greenway rules: all pets on a leash, 6 ft max, clean up after… |
Food and Drink
Food listings come from the Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association directory; only entries with an address are shown.
| Place | Type | Address | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casa Amigos Cocina Mexican Bar | Restaurant | 112 East Vance Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | Mexican restaurant and bar listed as Food & Drink in the Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association directory. |
| Fuquay Meat Market | Shop | 112 West Vance Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | Meat market listed as Food & Drink in the Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association directory. |
| SupaBowlz Café | Cafe | 411 East Broad Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | Cafe in the Varina district, listed as Food & Drink in the Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association directory. |
| TrySeafood Event Space | Restaurant | 519 East Broad Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 | Seafood restaurant and event space in the Varina district, listed as Food & Drink in the downtown association directory. |
Drive Times From Fuquay-Varina
About these numbers: populations for 2025 are Census Bureau estimates (Vintage 2025, July 1, 2025), not counts. Growth is measured from the Census estimates base for April 1, 2020, so it can differ from the raw 2020 census count, and it includes land a town annexed after 2020, not only people moving in. Drive times are estimates routed on OpenStreetMap roads with no traffic, from each town’s Census map point; rush hour is often much slower.
Fuquay-Varina History
| When | What Happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1805 | William Fuquay buys 1,000 acres at the site. | Official page |
| 1858 | The mineral spring is uncovered while a field is plowed. | Official page |
| 1909 | Fuquay Springs is incorporated. | Official page |
| 1963 | Fuquay Springs and Varina join as one town. | Official page |
| 2009 | Centennial year; the museums complex opens on South Fuquay Avenue. | Official page |
| 2019 | The Arts Center opens; Wake County transfers the Hilltop Needmore land to the town. | Official page |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Fuquay-Varina?
Two communities joined: Fuquay Springs (incorporated 1909) and Varina became one town in 1963, according to the town’s history page.
How many parks does Fuquay-Varina have?
The town says it has 18 parks with more than 300 acres, plus eleven trails and greenways.
How far is Fuquay-Varina from Research Triangle Park?
About 37 minutes and 27.3 road miles with no traffic, by our routing estimate from the town’s Census map point. Rush hour takes longer.
Is Fuquay-Varina part of the Triangle?
Yes. This guide places Fuquay-Varina in the Triangle region. See the Triangle region guide for every town.
Sources
- Town of Fuquay-Varina, History (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- Town of Fuquay-Varina, Trails and Greenways (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- Town of Fuquay-Varina, Parks (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- Town of Fuquay-Varina, Festivals (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates (sub-est2025.csv) (read Nov 3, 2026)
- OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads (drive-time estimates, no traffic) (computed Nov 3, 2026)
Checked November 3, 2026. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? Tell us.
Cite this page: It's North Carolina, “Fuquay-Varina, NC”, itsnorthcarolina.com/fuquay-varina-nc/ (updated ). By the It's North Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.